This piece is entitled "Thick Skinned" This Aspen trunk survived the fires of 2010 that raged through part of the Rio Grande Forest in Southfork Colorado. It's reminiscent of the political environment today. Any candidate, must be thick skinned and stand tall as the pundits and opponents (represented by smaller Aspen trees) try to whittle away at their credibility. Even though many rise above the political fire storm, they can never truly come out unscathed.